Flashlight



O. T. WOOD May s, 1945.

Filed Jan. '7, 1942 2 sheiets-shet 1 zel IZ/r

f3 jy ATTORNEYS Patented May 8, 1945 FLAsnLIGHT n Orville T., Wood, Clinton, Mass., assignor to Blake Manufacturing Corporation,'Clinton, Mass., a

corporation of Massachusetts `Applicatie January '1, 1942,seria1Noi.-425,s4s t 7 claims.' (c1. 24o- 10ml This invention relates to flashlights and moreV particularly to flashlights of the kind in which the source of electrical energy, in the form of a'battery of electrolytic cells, disposed'within a1 casing, is in an electricalcircuit including an incandescent lamp controlled by a circuit closer accessible from the exterior. v

One object of the invention is the support and disposition of all the elements of the flashlight whereby various forms and shapes ofcasings may be utilized with the same `assembly of battery, circuit closer, lamp andlight directing medium.

Another object of the invention is a hand lamp construction in which all of the parts of the ash.. light circuit are mounted on a chassis whereby theymay all be removed froml the casing as a unit for ready access and removal and replacement of parts. a

It is also an object of the invention to provide a flashlight of the character described whichpermits of the use of any design yof flashlight casing with a standard chassis.

A further object of the present invention isv to provide a flashlight of the vcharacter indicated in which the cells are readily accessible for replacement.

Still another object of the invention is a chassis on which substantially all of the operative parts of the flashlight may be mounted and which at the same time permits thereplacement of the batteries without disassembly of the casing and chassis as a whole.` l

It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction in which the support' for the cells, lamp and reflector together with the elec-` The invention also seeks a flashlight or hand lantern vwhich is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and convenience and durability in use.

In carrying these aspects of the invention into eiect, the incandescent lamp, reflector, battery, circuit, closer and, if desired, the lens, are carried upon a base or chassis which forms one wall portion of the ilashl'ght casing and -which is re-` f movable in whole and in part from'the casing. The casing may, in one modication, be formed with an aperture, closed by`a lens, if desired, through which the light may be directed, while in another modification of the invention, the

chassis may be formed with an aperture closed by a lens, if desired, through which the light .isvdirected.

,These and other yobjects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent `from the" following detailed description, taken in connectionv with the Vaccompanying drawings illustrating ;cne embodiment by `which the invention may be realized; and in which;` Figure l' is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing one modification of the on theline l-l'offFigure 2; i f f Figure 2 is a view looking from the :left in Figure-1; f -4 f Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional Viewx taken in the `plane indicated by the line y3-3 of; Figure '2 andflooking in thedirection'of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showingy a modification ofthe invention; and y Figure 5 is a fragmentary view 4lookingfir in theleftinFigure 4. l s .l

Referring flrstto Figures 1 and 2, the flashlight is there illustrated as comprising acomposite chassis' comprising `the elements 26, 28, 34,

flashlight of this invention, the view being taken hereinafter described, which` are collectively of generally elongated and f irregular rectangular `configuration over which the edge I2 of a threesided generally trough shaped casing memberv I4,

fits. In Figure 3, the casing member `I4.is.:shownv ing at its front end an o-pening I8, here show-n as round, through which the light reflected from the lamp 20 passes. Obviously, the casing -I4 may have any desired cross-sectional shape; l' l The sides ofthe casing are formed nteriorly with lugs 22 which are tapped to receive screws 24 retaining the chassis or base lplate on whichl all of the `operative parts of the flashlightmay conveniently be supported. Obviously other releaseable devices may be resorted to in lieuof the fastening means 22, 24, Thus, since all operative parts -vof the ashlight can, if desired,y -be mounted on the chassis, the casing may `assume any desired and ornamental shape. 'f

rThe chassis is illustratedas .comprising "anir` `regularly-shaped -fixed front portion 2liv preferably, but not necessarily, of sheetmetal, which is held to the lugs 22 by the uppermost'sixscrews 24 (Figure 1) and which chassis portionis'shown ,asx extending for about one-half the length of the Casing.

An intermediate closure member or trapedoor 28 closes,substantially,the other half of theicas-r ing and is secured-to the said fixed front-portion 26 byy means of vhinge 3|)` andis resiliently urged `toward its closed position by the coil spring 32 y with a slide or latch consisting of a rectangular .chassis vmember 34 and having a lip or end pori.'

'zinc terminal "50 off the battery through'the rear` disposed-at the hinged joint. y r

At the rear endofthe flashlight,.a xed latch- 'carrying Arear chassis portion 34 is also'secu'red as by screws 24 to lugs on the casing and is provided o latch plate 36 slidable on the last named fixed tion 38 which overlies (as Viewed in Fig. 2) the under'surface of thehinged door portion 28,01e l0 (the` chassis to retain the hinged lclosure member Y;

28 in' position. Theslidev is formed withl a slotr 42 receiving a ypair'ofstuds or rivets 48 and is thus reciprocalble on theflxed portion .34between positions' retaining and releasing the trap-door i5 i 28. c v f l Ation of fthe v:.:tlashligl'lt of Figures V1 and 2 vto ili The Astuds 40 mayfalso retainrthef-base portion 44v of a resilient battery` positioning memberfl,` 46, 48 illustrated asa conductive spring bent -up` wardly from the base portion, as at 46,*and then 2.20

' reverselyr bent','as at f4 8,'to"yieldingly engage the s c 'bottom V portion or rearendof the zinc cup or terminalshell 50 of thebattery 52^to urge Vthe battery'ltoward the frontend of theV casing.

"'Ifhusth'e rearrnost cell,v urged by the batteryfs vpositioning contact 48,` is in 'engagement AWith I Y the `forward cell, the central terminal 54 of which is, in turn, engaged bythe upwardly extending vconductive leafspringportion'56 of an Lshaped conductive member 55, 56, the base memberSSP-"BO` 'whereof 'is vfixed Vinposition on va non-conductive vorinsulatory*sheet `53 secured to the chassis. TIhisfsheetf 58 isprovided with a` longitudinally en#r tending slot 60'which isin register with 'a corre sponding slotinthe-chassis. AAthumbpiece 66)'4 35 Von the insulatory slide is slidalble on the-out-l side or Abottom surface ofthe chassis and has a 'portion68 extending r inwardly through'the slots "in thel chassis and non-conductive element 58 and carries. on its inner sidejin sliding 'and 40 i conductive yengagement with the portion 55',` a

contact memberill movable'by the thumb piece into engagement with the conductive strip 14.?

' Wardly bent resilient end l12, conveniently curved,`

to *yiel'dingly engage, in its forward position, a conta'ctstrip` 14 also mounted Ion the insulatory I'Il'revflampis threaded into a conductive socket f 18 carried'by `aA conductive support 80 'mounted uponk and injele'ctrical connection with the metallic chassis or a conductivepart thereof Which, ,55

in turn, is inv electrical connection Withjthe: f

positioning spring 44', 48.@Thus, when the slide `661isjadvanced toward the forward end ofther flashlightgan electrical connection is made Withl 6() the central terminali 54 of the battery by means,

of the insulated contact 56, and,`through thef contact 'lllk and strip' 14 with the 'central terminal: 16 ofthev lamp basejfto -illuminatefthe lampZDQ f "The lamp socket 18 forms the other'te'rminal in65 contact Awith the lamp and v'iselectric'a'lly con- 'nected with `'the metallic chassis. Thus, `Whenl n aglamp is in position inthe socket, the `circuit isi completed from the socket 18 through the conductivemember 8f!v tothev chassis and from the 70A chassis vthrough the positioning spring 44-48 i Y of which rest a lens '86.

member is thus In the Figure 1- modication,there is formed an opening |81., for the light raysinrthe end vofv the liiashlight casing. A lens 82 y is removably mounted, by a bezel 88, on a reflector 84 which 'is formed centrally with an aperture 86 adapted Vto register with the lamp socket but spaced therefrom .to .beout of electricconnection therewith. The reector 84 and its vassociated lens 82 `are conveniently supported, as by mounting the y reflector upon a non-conductive support -90 im- -mediately behind the aperture I8 on the front endof the chassis portion 26. Y

'In Figures 4 and 5, thereis shown a modificalustrate the :wide applicability of the invention to l'different situations. and for v'different pur-k poses. `Here the casing ||4 is not 'formed With ythe opening for Vtheipassage of light frqm'the lamp, but is closed on lall sides. v'It isormed y with a continuous rimalZ adapted to fit down Vover the chassis |26, |28,A |34Wl1ich is `substanand 2 'and like reference charactersare affixed to *correspondingfparts AIn this instance, howf y ever, 'thechassis portion* |26 is formed With-"an `opening 94, `,shown as circular, upon :the .edges l The lens is -held inclosing Yrelation to the opening94 by :an outwardly offset rim yportion 98 of a reflector |80,1Which may vbe removably secured as Icy-screws v|02 passing through aperture'siny a` flange |84 on the rim 93, Obviously,l other'releasable'. fastening means t may be used.v The reflector |08 isformed integral With-a' lamp socketv |66 receiving `the V lamp 2U vso :that the lamp base is in electrical.

connection with the chassis'through the reflector |08, rim |04the'reof and, through the chassis, with the zinc cup terminal 58 ofthe battery, as before., Ifithe chassis is'not conductive, a con- 'ductive 'strip' for this purpose may be carried 0 bythe chassis.

The circuit closer |10 on the slide `has an` angularlybent resilienty endA |88 which engages y a contact strip |14 adapted to be engaged by the ,central terminal 16 of the lamp. As before, the contact strip'l 74 .is insulated from the conductive chassis by the' insulatory sheet 58. Circuit vcloser member' "|10 is in.electricalvengagement Awith a iXedL-shaped contact |56 against whichthe terminal 54'of the dry rcell abuts.

vIt will be obviousin respect of'A both of the f modications discussed herein that the chassis may be composed of insulatory-material and that a conductive strip extending along the'chassis may :be utilized to complete the circuitbetween the lamp contacts andthe battery contacts.V

L.The chassis of either modication of this in!` l vention is capable of use' with casings of various shapes :and compositions and While illustrated.

as non-conductive, the casing may 4obviously be formed `of a conductive vmafterial so long as suit-k able insulating material is utilized to insulate-the y same Jfrom the conductive chassis and the battery.

"Itwill thus be seenthat a flashlight'is prc V videdy Vall-of the operative partsl of which are mounted Aupon a, chassis or removable Yside or vbottom of `the flashlight;- 1 The flashlight body y permitted to assumel various lshapes and forms both utilitarianv and ornamental and may be readilyy released and removed from the chassis to permit replacement of` lamp bulbs,` batteries or repairs, while, for the simple manipulation of replacing a battery,` a trapdoork in the chassis maybe released Vand opened to allow the batteries tobe withdrawn and new i batteries inserted merely by the manipulation of a releasable latch. l l

Various modications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, conigurationv and disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as e. whole and no limita- Ation is intended by the phraseologyof the `foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawings except asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: A

l. In a flashlight, in combination, a at platelike composite chassis, a ltrough-shaped casing having a peripheral edge lying in a common plane and of proportions and dimensions commensurate with the composite chassis, said chassis having all operative elements of a ashlight including a liglit, reflector "and circuit closer mounted thereon, said casing and said chassis being provided with coacting securing means whereby said composite chassis mayinterchangeably receive` any trough-shaped casing havingthe said-commensurate dimensions and proportions, said composite chassis comprising sections secured to said casing in spaced relation vand deiiningbetween themk an opening for insertion of battery cells, and a closure v adapted to be secured across said opening.

2. In a, flashlight, in combination, a flat platelike composite chassis, a trough-shaped casing having a peripheral edge lying ina common plane and of proportions and dimensions commensurate with the composite chassis, said chassis having all operative elements of a flashi light including-a light, reflector and circuit closer mounted thereon, vsaid casing and said chassis being provided with coacting securing' ymeans whereby said composite chassis may interchangeably receive any trough-shaped casing having the said commensurate dimensions and proportions., said composite' chassis comprising sections secured to said casing in spaced relation and dening between them an opening for insertion of battery cells, a closure for the opening carried by one of said sections, and latching having a peripheral edgelying in a common plane and of proportions and dimensions commensurate with the composite chassis and being formed with an opening for the passage of light, said chassis having all operativeelements of a nash-` light including a lens, reflector and circuit closer.

mounted thereon, said casing and said chassis being provided with coacting securing means whereby said composite chassis may interchangeably receive any trough-shaped casing having the said commensurate dimensions vand proportions, said compositechassis comprisingsections secured to said casing in spaced relation and defining between them an opening forjinsertion of dry cells, and a closure adapted to be'` secured across said opening. c

5. In a flashlight, in combination, a flat platelike composite chassis, a trough-shaped casing having a'peripheral edge lyingin a common plane and of proportionsland dimensions commensurate with the composite chassis, said chassis having all loperative 'elements of a ilashlight including a lens, reilector and circuit closer `mounted thereon, said casing and said chassis being provided with coacting securing means whereby said composit'e chassis may interchangeably receive any trough-shaped casing having the said commensurate dimensions and proportions, said composite chassis comprising sections secured to said cas'- ing in spaced relation and dening between them A' an opening Vforinsertion of dry cells, a closure for the opening hinged'to one of said sections,

and means associated with said closure resilientlyv urging it into closed position.

.6. In aflashlightyin combination, a at plate- "like composite kchassis of` electrically conductive material, a trough-shaped casing vhaving a peripheral edge lying in a common plane and oi proportions and dimensions commensurate with 4the edges of ysaid `composite chassis, said chassis having all operativev elements of a ilashlight including a light, circuit closer and battery contacts mounted thereon, said conductive chassis forming a part of the electrical circuit between means for the closure vcarried by the other of I said sections.

3. In a flashlight, in combination, a flat platelike composite chassis, a trough-shaped casing having a peripheral edge lying in a common plane and of proportions and dimensions commensurate with the composite chassis, said chassis having all operative elements ofa flashlight including a y lens, reflector and circuit closer mounted thereon and having an opening for the passage Aci said operativel elements, saidcasing and said chassis being' provided'with coacting, securing means whereby various casings having the said commensurate dimensions `rand proportions vmay be interchangeably secured-tosaid chassis, said composite chassis 'comprising sections secured to said casing spaced relation and dening between them an'opening for insertion of battery cells,

and a closure adapted to be secured acrosssaid I opening.

'1. In anashiight, in combination, a nat platelike composite chassis, atrough-shaped casing having a peripheral edge of proportions and clil mensions commensurate with the composite chassis and closely surrounding its periphery, said chassis having4 all operative elements of a flashlight in cluding thelight; circuit closer andbattery contacts mounted thereon, said casingv and 'said i chassisbeing provided with coacting securingV means comprising lugs internally of said casing adjacent its edge adapted yto be engaged by iastening means associated with said composite chassis, said chassis comprising sections secured 4to said lugs in spaced relation anddening between them an opening for inertion of battery cells, and a closure adapted to be secured across 'said opening,

y QRVIILE T. WOOD. 

